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Original poster

Why is the woman next to me sitting in her car with the engine on?

163 replies

couchparsnip · 20/09/2022 19:57

Just that really.
We've dropped off our kids at dance school and we're just waiting in the car park for the class to end. She's been sat there with her engine running for at least half an hour. I don't get how anyone can waste that much fuel! Does she not realise? I'm not going to tell her but does anyone else.do.that - and why would you?

OP posts:
Buttons294749 · 20/09/2022 20:45

Because she gives zero fucks about the envirnonent.

Yes it's cold waiting in the car at dance class at 0830am on a sunday (thanks for the early start miss ballet teacher!). I need a dance moms style viewing room!

Mostmarriedcouple · 20/09/2022 20:46

Staying warm or perhaps hasn’t driven for a while and is charging up the battery. IMO you’re a bit odd for making this into a post. Get a life!

Mwnci123 · 20/09/2022 20:47

It's antisocial and irritating, especially outside schools. They don't even seem to care about the air quality for their own kids. Really weird. The answers here have at least been an insight, despite all the reasons being shit except the car that might not start again.

Mwnci123 · 20/09/2022 20:48

Mostmarriedcouple · 20/09/2022 20:46

Staying warm or perhaps hasn’t driven for a while and is charging up the battery. IMO you’re a bit odd for making this into a post. Get a life!

It's very common behaviour and it stinks. If you don't think it warranted a thread perhaps you could scroll on.

ramarama · 20/09/2022 20:49

So umm, my car doesn't charge my phone whilst not running either.....but that's why I carry a separate charger in my handbag.
Would never think it's ok to run my car engine just to charge my phone. what the hell is wrong with people?! FFS

Notanotherwindow · 20/09/2022 20:52

My car doesn't charge anything without the engine running. Same with radio, it goes off with the engine. Last car was the same.

ColeensBoot · 20/09/2022 20:53

It's a traffic offence to sit with the engine idling. However due to the extreme lack of any actual police people I don't think anything will be done about it

AlmostOver22 · 20/09/2022 20:53

Running a car to charge a phone is insane. Buy a battery pack…

Also illegal and immoral www.confused.com/car-insurance/guides/fines-for-idling

scrufffy · 20/09/2022 20:53

couchparsnip · 20/09/2022 20:05

No baby in the back. It's not that cold either. I'm sat here in a shirt and don't need the heater on.
Charging a phone doesn't need the engine to run -neither does listening to the radio. I'm doing both with my engine off!
FFS now someone else is doing it - and he has his lights on as well. What's the matter with everyone?

I feel the cold. I don't wear a coat in the car. I'd need to have the heater at 22 to be comfortable and it's 10 here this evening

waterlego · 20/09/2022 20:55

Raul57 · 20/09/2022 20:02

I have my GLS running most of time waiting for my wife shopping as it's either too hot so climate control on and now it's a bit nippy, I like a constant 24C in the car as I almost always wear shorts and T-shirt if not going into the shops.

Oh well. Fuck the planet, and local air quality, eh? As long as you can sit in your very hot car in your shorts. 👍🏼

scrufffy · 20/09/2022 20:56

And I am wear a jumper. With two layers below it.

My car doesn't charge the phone if the ignition is off.

I've only one battery pack which stays in my work bag.

LBOCS2 · 20/09/2022 20:56

Until I replaced my battery, I needed my car running to do anything at all which consumed power - less than 5 minutes of radio (or heating) would kill it. So possibly her battery is on its way out?

PestorPeston · 20/09/2022 20:57

It is really common behaviour. As demonstrated by this thread, many people cannot comprehend why anyone would give a fuck about it.

Mwnci123 · 20/09/2022 20:59

Put a coat on ffs @scrufffy, maybe even a hat. You're choosing to emit disease causing particulate matter because you're inappropriately dressed. That's a bad reason to do that.

scrufffy · 20/09/2022 21:01

Mwnci123 · 20/09/2022 20:59

Put a coat on ffs @scrufffy, maybe even a hat. You're choosing to emit disease causing particulate matter because you're inappropriately dressed. That's a bad reason to do that.

You're not supposed to wear a coat in the car and I'm disabled and getting in and out is incredibly difficult for me. I would have to get out, go to the boot and get a coat out and put it on and then get back in to the car. And then do the same again when the child returned.

InThatCaseCanIHaveARaise · 20/09/2022 21:03

couchparsnip · 20/09/2022 20:05

No baby in the back. It's not that cold either. I'm sat here in a shirt and don't need the heater on.
Charging a phone doesn't need the engine to run -neither does listening to the radio. I'm doing both with my engine off!
FFS now someone else is doing it - and he has his lights on as well. What's the matter with everyone?

I have a neurological condition and one of the problems I have because of it is that I really feel the cold and when others are comfortable I’m shivering. I try to make sure I have a fleece jacket but sometimes I forget and need the heater on in the car.

scrufffy · 20/09/2022 21:03

I have a blue badge due to disability and I do wear hats and fingerless gloves but I don't like driving in them. I have sensory issues with hats and find them distracting which I don't think is a good idea when driving and the fingerless gloves I have are woollen and I don't feel I have as good a grip on the steering wheel as I should have for driving.

LaPufalina · 20/09/2022 21:04

I ask people (builders mainly) who are letting their engines idle outside my house to turn them off. If I get any attitude I look sad and mutter about my poor kids' lungs. I need to train the kids to look sad to match me Grin
It stinks, it's illegal and it's so bad for our air quality.

waterlego · 20/09/2022 21:05

scrufffy · 20/09/2022 20:56

And I am wear a jumper. With two layers below it.

My car doesn't charge the phone if the ignition is off.

I've only one battery pack which stays in my work bag.

Buy another battery (with the money you will save on fuel)? Bring the one from your work bag? Manage without a phone for a little while?

Can all the posters with the crap excuses please just for 5 minutes imagine yourself explaining your list of excuses to future generations living in a world that has become uninhabitable. It’s not going to wash.

Mfsf · 20/09/2022 21:05

I do it because I like to listen to music or speak on the phone and the AC at a comfortable temperature to the baby and me . I normally have my baby with me and it’s not other to hot or too cold so can’t really turn the car off for long . If it’s a day that I don’t need ac teh car will normally stop and only restart if the battery is low for the radio

Stellaris22 · 20/09/2022 21:06

I don't get it.

We walk to DDs swimming class and it's next to a lovely park. I don't get why you'd sit in a car for 30 mins when you can cross the road and sit in a park instead (or use the time for a walk).

scrufffy · 20/09/2022 21:06

Yeah crap disability excuses 🙄

33goingon64 · 20/09/2022 21:06

I think you might go to the same dance class as us. There's always someone sat with engine on through the whole class, and it's a massive 4x4 as well. It might be her choice to waste fuel but it's inflicting pollution on the rest of us.

SirGawain · 20/09/2022 21:07

MugginsOverEre · 20/09/2022 20:00

I do it to charge my phone when I'm stuck at some tedious shite activity such as dance classes and my battery is about to run out. No way am I sitting twiddling my thumbs with no device for an hour.

I you need to run the engine to charge your phone there is something seriously wrong with your car battery, in which case it would not stat your car. Your car battery is more than capable of charging your phone!

scrufffy · 20/09/2022 21:08

I have ASD and adhd. I need to keep things in the same places or I'll never find them.

I could get another battery pack and keep it in the car but where? I can't reach the glove box without getting out of the car (see my previous post) and the storage compartment in the door is too small for anything except a paper clip.